Raley's, union reps spend second day bargaining

Union members Ronda Zanelli, left, and Elissa Hardy, right, construct picket signs as staff, union members and retirees gathered in preparation for a possible strike against Raley's supermarkets, Monday, Oct. 29, 2012, at the Sacramento Central Labor Council in the Natomas community of Sacramento, Calif. Raley's said it would implement its final contract offer on Thursday to the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union.

WEST SACRAMENTO (AP) - Officials with supermarket chain Raley's and union representatives spent a second day back at the bargaining table, but late Monday there was no word of any possible progress in ending a strike.

Raley's and United Food and Commercial Workers union resumed talks Sunday after union workers walked off the job the previous Sunday.

The strike is the first strike in the 77-year-history of the West Sacramento-based chain.

Both sides are at odds over wages and benefits, including Raley's proposal to eliminate health care benefits for retirees eligible for Medicare.

Raley's officials say they need to cut costs in the face of competition from nonunionized companies, but union officials say the company has been bargaining in bad faith since contract negotiations began.

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

Email this article

Raley's, union reps spend second day bargaining

WEST SACRAMENTO (AP) ? Officials with supermarket chain Raley's and union representatives spent a second day back at the bargaining table, but late Monday there was no word of any possible progress